Waihī Beach lifeguards put wāhine in the driver’s seat at regional IRB development day

On Saturday 20 June, 48 women from across the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty region gathered at Waihī Beach for Wāhine on Water, a development day run by Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region, designed to give women a supportive, female-led environment to build their Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) skills.

Hosted at Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services (WBLGS), the day welcomed participants of all experience levels, from those sitting in a rescue boat for the first time to experienced lifeguards refining their technique ahead of their IRB qualifications.

Participants practised a wide range of skills including crewing, driving, patient pick-ups, launching in shore break, navigating surf, general engine maintenance, trailer backing, and engine reinstatements.

WBLGS extended the event into a full ‘Wāhine Weekend’ for its young surf lifeguards, rounding out Saturday with a sunset run up the coast on IRBs and a rescue watercraft, followed by fish and chips together and a sleepover at the club. Sunday morning brought Pilates and waffles.

Chloe Poulter, instructor and co-organiser from Waihī Beach, said the day reflects the club’s commitment to developing its young members.

“One of the best parts was seeing how much time the girls actually got in the boat, really getting comfortable driving and making decisions on the water. Our Waihī Beach instructors love being able to pass that knowledge down to the younger members, and that’s exactly what this day is about.”

She added: “Extending it into a Wāhine Weekend for our Waihī Beach girls gave them the chance to build on what they’d learned, connect as a team, and have some fun together. It was a great weekend all round.”

The WBLGS team included Lucy Scown as examiner, Chloe Poulter, Chiara Woodford and Jess Meade as instructors, and Georgie Brown as mentor. Ella Higgins also helped organise. Young Waihī lifeguards Cora Barrett-Hodgson, Ivy Barrett-Hodgson, Tianna Macdonald, Emma Page, Isabel Shaw, and Georgia Walter all took part.

WBLGS thanks the Wāhine on Water organiser Hiria Kayes, Club Support Lead for Coromandel at SLSNZ Eastern Region, the water safety team who set the cans and supported on the water, and the many other volunteers.

If this all sounds like a bit of you, WBLGS is always on the look out for volunteer surf lifeguards. 

Read more https://www.waihibeachlifeguards.co.nz/become-a-surf-lifeguard/